Dave Chappelle vs. the New Puritans

On July 20th, First Avenue, a venue that describes itself as “the epicentre of music and entertainment in Minneapolis,” broke its booking contract with Dave Chappelle, one of America’s most popular stand-up comics. As noted in First Avenue’s own promotional materials, Chappelle is “the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, has earned more than 30 nominations and awards in television and film … has received five Emmy awards [and] has won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album three years in a row, 2018 through 2020.” Indeed, First Avenue itself gave Chappelle a star on its Wall of Fame in 2013. But as Chappelle’s performance date approached, none of that was enough to save him from the mob. Read Full Article »